weymann



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. C. M. WEYMANN.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR CONTROLLER.

No. 595,086. Patented De0.7,1897.

(No Model.) 3 Sheet-sSheet 2.

O. M. WEYMANN. ELECTRIC ELEVATOR CONTROLLER.

No. 595,086. Patented De0.7,1897.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. C. M. WEYMANN. ELECTRIC ELEVATORCONTROLLER.

No. 595,086. Patented De0.'7,1897.

NE mums Pi'LM an. Pnoroumo" wAsm-NOTON. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

CHARLES M. WVEYMANN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THECAI'IILL & I'IALL ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR-CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,086, dated December7, 1897.

Application filed January 2'7, 1897. Serial No. 620,880. (No model.)

To LZZ whom, it may concern: ter, forming no part of my invention, isnot Be itknown that I, CHARLES M. IVEYMAN N, here shown. a citizen ofthe United States, residing in the \Vithin the elevator-cage is aswitchboard city and county of San Francisco, State of Caliconsisting ofa semicircle D, which is con- 5 fornia,have invented an ImprovementinElecneeted with the main-line wire D and smaller tricElevator-Controllers; and I hereby decontact-seginentsE E andFF.Alever-arm clare the following to be a full, clear, and G is pivotedcentrally within these segments exact description of the same. and ismovable by a suitable handle, so as to My invention relates to a meansfor concontact with and make connection between lo trolling themovements of electrically-actuthe various segments of the switchboard,as

ated motors, especially when connected with may be desired. elevators,and which I call an electric ele- At any suitable point with relation tothe vator-controller. elevator is situated the mechanism of my con- Itconsists in certain details of constructrolling apparatus, which may beinclosed in I5 tion which will be more fully explained by a suitablecasing 13. The various lines of reference to the accompanying drawings,in wire from the switchboard just previously dewhich scribed may passthrough a cable h to a j'unc- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of myaption-box II and from thence to the controlling paratus. Fig. 2 is avertical section of elemechanism. Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view 2ovator. Fig. 3 is a View of the switchboard. of this apparatus.

Fig. l is a plan view of the controlling mech- Within the casing B arefixed solenoids anism. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the solenoidsconsisting of two coils J J, each having a core and connections. Fig. 6is a vertical section K, either of which will be drawn into its throughthe clutch mechanism and its consolenoid whenever the latter isenergized. 2 5 nections. Fig. '7 is a view of the switch-points Thesecores are connected with short crankand dial-arms. Fig. 8 shows thecut-off mecharms L, which project upon opposite sides of anism for thesmall motor. Fig. 9 is a section a shaft M, suitably journaled withreference showing one of the yielding contacts. to the solenoids, sothat whenever this shaft The object of my invention, as herein deisturned to one side or the other one of the 8o 0 scribed, is to provide ameans for perfectly cores K will be moved into its solenoid andcontrolling the movements of an electric 1110- the other simultaneouslywithdrawi'i. This tor when subjected to a varying load, as illusmovementtakes place when one of the solentrated in the operation of an elevator.oids is energized, and this one establishes the In carrying out myinvention I employ a direction the motor and the elevator-cage are 3 5mechanism by which I first establish the dito be run, as follows: Uponthe end of the rection in which the elevator-cage is to move. shaft M isa non-cond ucti n g lever-arm N, car- At the same time I energize amagnetic clutch rying suitable contacts 0 O, which are conand finallystart a mechanism which serves nected by flexible wires 0 O withbindingto connect the electrical circuit through the posts 0" 0 so as toallow the lever to move 0 4o fields and armature of the motor and toregufreely. The binding-posts are connected by late the amount ofresistance in the circuit to wires P P with the main-motor armature.suit the varying character of the load to be The movement of the lever Nthrows it into moved. Ihave alsoshown an automatic mechcontact eitherwith the points P and P or anism for cutting the current off from the Pand P and thus establishes a circuit 5 5 motor which actuates themagnetic clutch and either through the wire P and return throughconnected mechanism. P, by which the motor will be driven in one A isthe cage of an elevator, adapted to direction, or through the wire P andreturn travel in the usual guides, having a suspendthrough P, which willserve to drive it in the ing and elevating rope or connection atB andopposite direction. This establishing of the 30 a motor located at C,which aetuates the ropedirection in which the motor is to move iswindingmechanism of the elevator. Thelatmade by the movement of thelever G. If

it be thrown over so as to establish communication through the segment Eon the switchboard within the cage, a circuit will be established fromthe main line through wire Q to the solenoid J and by the wire R to mainline, which will first energize the so lenoid J, thus attracting itscore and drawing it into the solenoid, and through the lever L the shaftM and the lever-arm N will be moved, so as to produce the connectionswhich will establish the circuit through the main motor-armature wires PP, so that the direction of movement of the motor and that of theelevator-cage is established. The current passing through the solenoidalso passes through a connecting-wire R to a magnetic clutch S. Thisclutch is of any usual wellknown construction and is shown in thepresent case as consisting of two concentric members movable about acommon axis with relation to each other. The outer shell S of thisclutch is mounted upon a sleeve T, and this sleeve T has fixed upon it aworm-wheel U, which is adapted to be engaged by a worm or screw U, sothat when the latter is turned it will rotate the worm-gear U andconnected parts. This screw U is actuated by a small motor V, which isenergized as hereinafter described. The sleeve T and the parts carriedby it turn loosely upon an inner shaft T, suitably journaled, and thisshaft carries the other member S of the clutch. The coil by which theclutch is magnetized is contained within the outer casing S of theclutch, and when energized it serves to hold the part S with relation tothe part S so that when the worm-wheel U is turned and the part S of theclutch is rotated thereby the part S will be moved with the outer casingof the clutch and will thus turn the interior shaft T. Upon this shaftis fixed a double dial-arm \V \V, which is movable with the shaft, thepart XV moving over the independent switch points or plates Y of asegmental arc fixed with relation to this arm, as shown. The part W" ofthis dial-arm moves over the plates Y of a second segment of smallerdiameter, fixed upon the opposite side of the j ournal-shaft of thedial-arm. The plates Y Y are connected with a series of resistanceeoilsZ, and the plates Y are correspondingly connected with a series ofresistance-coils Z. The upper and lower contact-plates are connected bymeans of the dial-arm \V \V,as hereinafter described. Theresistance-coils Z are in series with the armature of the main motor andthe resistance-coils Z with its shuntfield. The operation of thisportion will then be as follows:

The normal position of the dial-arm is, as shown in the present case,vertical and lying between the two segments Y and Y before the dial-armcommences to turn by the c011- necting of the motor, and when in thisposition no electrical current can pass through the main motor. Thesmall motorVis connected (after the direction has been established andthe clutch energized, as previously described) by moving the lever Guntil it contacts with the plate F of the switchboard in the cage. Thismakes connection between the mainline wire and the wire a,which connectswith the small motor V and sets it in motion. The movement of this motorV is always in the same direction, and, as previously described, it actsthrough the worm U and worm-wheel U to move the clutch S S and thedial-arm \V \V. The first movement of this dial-arm c011- nects up thefield-circuit by contact of the lower end XV with the first of theplates Y, and a further movement connects the end \V with the first ofthe plates Y. After these two contacts are formed the circuit iscomplete and permits the passage of the current through both field andarmature. The current passes first to the junction of the shunt andseries field, dividing, one part passing through the shunt-field at C,thence to lower contact Y, thence through the connection 1 from Y to Y.The other part of the current passes through the series field, thence toI O O P, thence through the armature of large motor, thence through I OO 1, thence through P P, thence through resistance-coil Z to uppercontact Y, uniting at that point with the shunt-circuit, and as soon asthe dial-arm has touched the first contact of Y, when both fields andarmature are energized, the circuit then passes through the returnwiresof the circuit. The full amount of the resistance is at this timeconnected with the armature, and, correspondingly, the least resistancein the shunt-field. As the dial-arm lV moves successively over theplates Y Y the resistance in the armature-circuit is decreased and thatin the shunt-field circuit is increased until the dial-arm has made verynearly a half-revolution, so that the ends are very nearly reversed andthe resist ance in the armature cut out and that in the fields increasedto its maximum, thereby giving the maximum speed of the main motor. Theshaft T, which carries the dial-arm, extends through the back of thecase containing the mechanism and upon the rear carries a crank-arm Z).This crank-arm turns with the movement of the shaft T until it contactswith the forked or Y-shaped arm 0, which is pivoted, as shown at c, atthe junction of its arms. The arm Z) striking one of the arms 0 turns itand breaks the circuit to the small clutch-actuating motor V, and thisprevents any further movement of the dial-arm in this direction. Theshaft T carries on its end the longer arm Z) and the shorter arm I). Thelonger arm is also preferably set out a little, so as to clear the stopN, which latter is, however, not essentially necessary, as the weightand rope regulate the amount of travel of the shaft T. The arm 0 is alsoa trifle shorter than the arm 0. In Fig. 8 the arm 0 is shown as justpushed outwardly by the arm Z1, and this separates the arm 0 from thecontact a and opens the main circuit. At

the same time it brings the arm 0 into the path of travel of the arm I),so that on its return the armb will strike the arm 0, thereby closingthe circuit again. The arm 1), being shorter, will clear the arms a and0, but will strike the stop b on the forward movement, the arm 0 havingbeen pushed out of the way of arm I), but arm 0 stands in its line oftravel, so that arm I) will pass arm 0' and will strike arm 0.Connection is made as follows: A positive current through the wire Dpasses through G on the cage, thence through F, thence through the wirea, thence through the axis of arm 0, thence to contact-point with armI), thence through the small motor which operates the dial, and thenceout. Vhen the dial turns around, it cuts the circuit out.

If no change in the speed of the main motor is desired, the dial-arm XVWV may remain in the position last described, where the speed of themain motor will be the greatest; but if it is desired to reduce thespeed of the cage it is done by deenergizing the clutch S S by themovement of the cage-lever G. As soon as the clutch is deenergized thedial-arm W W is returned to its normal position or to any point betweenthe extremes by the action of a weight cl, attached to a cord 6, whichpasses around a pulley f, fixed upon the shaft T in such a manner thatthe weight acts in opposition to the clutch, and this weight issufficient when the clutch is deenergized to rotate the shaft T in theopposite direction to which it is moved by the clutch, thus returningthe dial-arm to its normal position, as previously described. Byreenergizing the clutch at any time it will stop and hold the dial-arm NW" at any intermediate point desired.

In order to abruptly break the connection between the dial-arm and itscontacts as it returns, 1 have shown the arm as forming a hinged orpivoted extension g, so attached that when the dial-arm is movingforward over the contacts by reason of the action of the clutch thisextension, resting against a stop g, remains rigidly in line with theremainder of the arm, and the yielding contactpoint h is forced back toallow the arm g to pass it. This contact-point 7L passes through theback and is connected by a flexible wire with the first contact-plate ofthe series of resistance-coils. hen the dial-arm returns, and justbefore it reaches its normal position, the extension 9 contacts with thepoint it. The extension g, which is normally kept in line with theremainder of the dial-arm VJ by a light spring, will yield when itcontacts with the projection h, and this will allow the extension toturn about its joint, maintaining the contact between the end of theextension and the point It, through which the circuit is completed,until the dial-arm \V has moved to a point which will cause theextension g to pass the point or stop /L, which has hitherto formedcontact with it, and the extension is then suddenly released and by theaction of its spring is disengaged from the contactpoint and returnedinto line with the dial-arm \V. This breaks the circuit abruptly andprevents damage to the parts by being burned by the current at theinstant of breaking the circuit.

If the cage is at the top and has to come down, the leverG in the cagewill be moved to contact with the point E, and this connects, throughthe wire P, and returns through P, with the solenoid J, which is thusenergized, so as to draw its core K into it, and, acting, as previouslydescribed, upon the shaft M and lever N, will throw the latter over, soas to engage the contacts P and P thus giving a direction to the mainmotor which will allow the cage to descend. The clutch S S is alsoenergized at the same time through the connectin g-wire R, as beforedescribed, and a further movement of the cage-lever G forms contact withthe plate F, and through the circuit of the wire a the small motorV isset in motion and the dial-arm W V is moved over the contacts Y Y,through which the resistance-coils are controlled, and the operationwill be the same as previously described.

If the weight of the cage is so great as to overcome the power of themotor when the dial-arm XV has moved so far as to cut out a greatportion of the resistance, the clutch is demagnetized and the dial-armreturned by the weight d to its normal position, thus increasing theresistance of armature and decreasing the resistance of shunt-field,causing a strong field which will decrease the speed of the main motor.hen the dial-arm is in its normal position, the lower end V will restagainst a pin it, which is connected by a wire 76 with some plate Y ofthe shunt series, (preferably with the second.) By means of thisconnection the external circuit is cut out and a reconnection is madewith the shuntcircuit. The current passes through the fieldmagnet tolower contact Y, thence through K to K, thence to XV, to upper contactY, to P, to P 0, O and P, through the motor O, thence through P to O to0 P and back to the field-magnet, thus completing the inside circuit.This takes place when the pointer shown in Fig. '7 has moved into theVertical position, where it makes contact at the point K. This preventsinjurious discharges of the field-circuit and permits the motor to be instantly turned into a generator without detrimental results. lVhen themotor is thus changed to a generator, it acts to control the movement ofthe cage by its resistance, and more especially when the cage isdescending with a heavy load.

By this device I provide a perfect controlling mechanism for all themovements of the motor and the elevator which it controls.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with an electric motor and an elevator mechanismmoved thereby,

of a mechanism comprising solenoids having movable cores and mechanismactuated by the cores whereby contacts are produced and the direction ofthe motor first established, a controlling device whereby both armatureand field resistance are varied proportionately to the desiredmotor-speed, and an automatically-operating device comprising anelectric clutch within the circuit which is established through thesolenoids and intermediate mechanism whereby the controller isdisengaged and returned to its normal position.

2. The combination with an electric motor, resistance-coils having oneend connected with the armature and the other end to the field of themotor,a dial-arm forming a switchcontact movable over the contact-pointswhich are connected with the resistance so that the resistances in thefield and armature circuits are varied inversely, and anautomaticallyoperating mechanism comprising an electric clutch andintermediate mechanism connecting the clutch with the dial-arm wherebythe dial-arm is moved.

3. The combination with an electric motor and an elevator-cage driventhereby, of a mechanism whereby contacts are produced and the directionof motion of the motor is first established, comprising solenoids havingmovable cores, and mechanism connected therewith and actuated by one orthe other of the cores in opposite directions whereby the contacts areformed to establish the direction of the motor, an electric clutchwithin the circuit which is established through the solenoids which isenergized at the same time the direction of rotation of the motor isestablished, and connections between the solenoids and the cage wherebyeither of them is energized.

at. The combination with an electric motor and mechanism driven thereby,of resistancecoils connecting respectively with the armature, and thefields of the motor whereby the resistance of the electric currentthrough the motor is varied, a dial-arm movable over and forming contactsuccessively with switchpoints whereby the resistance-coils are throwninto or out of the circuit and an electric clutch and intermediatemechanism whereby the clutch engages and moves the dial-arm or isdisengaged therefrom to allow the dial-arm to return to its normalposition.

5. The combination with an electric motor and mechanism driven thereby,of resistancecoils, a mechanism whereby said coils are thrown into orout of the circuit, consisting of switch points or segments connectingrespectively with the armature and field resistance-coils, a dial-armpivoted so as to move over the segments and successively throw in or cutout the resistance-coils, an electric clutch connecting with the shaftby which the dial is turned, means for energizing and denergizing theclutch, a mechanism by which the clutch is rotated when energized andthe dial-arm carried thereby, and means for returning the dial-arm toits normal position when the clutch is deenergized.

6. The combination with an electric motor and mechanism driven thereby,of resistancecoils connecting respectively with the armature and fieldsof the motor, switclrpoints arranged in segments, one series beingconnected with the armature and the other with the field-circuit, adial-arm pivoted centrally with relation to the segments and movableover them so that one end passes over the armature resistance switchpoints, and the other over the field-resistance switch-points, a shaftupon which the dial-arm is mounted and with which it is turnable, apulley fixed upon the shaft with a weight whereby the dial-arm is heldor returned to its normal position, an electric clutch, one member ofwhich is fixed to the dialshaft and the other member to a sleeveturnable loosely upon said shaft, a mechanism whereby the clutch whenenergized is turned so as to rotate the dialshaft, and means fordeenergizing the clutch so that the dial-shaft is released and theopposing weight acts to return the dial-arm to its normal position.

'7. The combination with an electric motor and a mechanism movedthereby, of resistance-coils connecting respectively with the armatureand fields of the motor, switch-points arranged in circular segments andeonnectin with the resistancecoils, a dial-arm mounted upon a shaftcentrally journaled between the switch-points, whereby the dial-arm ismovable over said points to increase or decrease the resistance in themotor-circuit, an electromagnetic clutch, one member of which is fixedto the shaft of the dial-arm, and the other member to a sleeve which isloosely revoluble upon said shaft whereby the two are united to move inunison when the clutch is energized, and allowed to move independentlywhen it is deenergized, a weight acting to return the dial-arm to itsnormal position when the clutch is decnergized, a worm-gear c011-necting with the sleeve and the outer member of the clutch, and a motorwhereby the gear is driven -so as to rotate the clutch and the dial-arm.

8. The combination with an electric motor and a mechanism driventhereby, of resistance-coils connecting respectively with the armatureand fields of the magnet, segmentally-disposed switch-points uponopposite sides of a circle connecting respectively with the resistanceof the armature, and that of the fields, a dial-arm mounted upon theccntra-l journal-shaft and turnable so as to suecessively connect or cutout the resistancecoils, a weight by which the dial-arm is normallyretained out of contact, a magnetic clutch one member of which is fixedto the dial-shaft and the other to a sleeve loosely revoluble thereon,said sleeve being connected through the magnetic clutch when the latteris energized, so as to cause the dial-shaft to retate with it, anddisconnected therefrom when the clutch is deenergized to allow theweight to return the dial arm to its normal position.

9. The supplemental motor with wires connecting it with the switchboardof the elevator-cage whereby the motor may be thrown into or out of thecircuit, and a worm-gear driven by said motor and connecting with themagnetic clutch so as to rotate the latter and the dial-arm while themotor is energized.

10. The combination with an electric motor and mechanism driven-thereby,switchpoints arranged in segments upon opposite sides of a circle andconnecting with the resistance-coils respectively of the armature andfields, a dial-arm fixed upon a shaft which is journaled centrallybetween the segmental switch-points, whereby the opposite ends of thedial-arm are movable over the respective switch-points of the armatureand field circuits to throw them out of and into the circuit, a magneticclutch connecting with the shaft of the dial-arm to move the dial-arm inone direction over the switch-points when the clutch is energized, and aweight by which the dial-arm is returned to its normal position when theclutch is deenergized, a supplemental motor and intermediate mechanismwhereby the clutch and dial-arm are turned so that the latter moves overthe resistance switch-points to reduce the resistance in the pivoted andmovable over the switch-points,an electromagnetic clutch mechanism bywhich the dial-arm is advanced over the switchpoints when the clutch isenergized, and means by which the dial-arm is returned to its normalposition, when released, and a spring-actuated tip pivoted to the end ofthe dial-arm to maintain full contact with the conductor until the endof the dial-arm has passed, the spring acting to suddenly break thecircuit and restore the tip to its normal position relative to the arm.

12. The dial-arm movable over the contactplates of the armature andfield circuits, a yielding extension of the dial-arm, and a stop bywhich it is maintained rigid with the arm when advancing, acontact-point connecting with the first contact-plate of the series ofresistance-coils, and yielding to allow the extension of the dial-arm topass when advancing, said extension itself yielding when it contactswith the point on its return, and maintaining a circuit through thepoint until it is broken suddenly by the action of its spring.

13. The dial-arm with its opposite ends movable over the contact-platesof the armature and shunt circuits respectively, a pin or stop connectedwith a plate of the shunt-circuit, against which that end of thedial-arm rests when it is in its normal position, whereby thefield-circuit is first cut out when the arm returns to its position anda reconnection is instantly made with the field-circuit.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES M. WVEYMANN. lVitnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, JEssIE O. BRODIE.

